After much planning and discussion, the Unitary Patent (UP) and the Unified Patent Court (UPC) are due to launch in Europe in mid-2023. For the first time, the new UP will introduce a single patent right covering all EU Member States that have ratified the UPC Agreement and the UPC...

The Netherlands Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM) found that general sustainability claims made by parcel delivery businesses, such as "go green" and "sustainable delivery", are misleading. According to the consumer protection authority, the claims give consumers a false impression about the environmental impact of parcel deliverers. Focus on the...

GSA, a leading provider of student accommodations, creates, manages and finances real estate projects. The acquired Headquarter portfolio includes sites in Munster, Dresden, Darmstadt and Frankfurt. Hereby, the British investor and facility operator enters into the German market and continues its expansion course. A team of Osborne Clarke, led by...

After two years of debate, the German federal parliament (Bundestag) finally tightened the legislation on copyright contract law. A new “ Act for improved enforcement of claims of authors for reasonable compensation” will come into force on 1 March 2017. Why is this needed? German copyright law already provides authors...

In January 2017, the European Commission held a workshop on patent licensing under the 5G telecommunications standard (now in development) and has prepared an outline proposal attempting to balance the interests of technology developers with those of makers of consumer products. What’s the issue? Companies that declare the patents they...

On 16 February 2017, the European Parliament debated the report and recommendation put forward by the Legal Affairs Committee on the legal, ethical and social issues raised by the steady incursion of robots into increasing areas of human activity (see our previous article here). Disappointingly for those hoping for some...

Whilst clearly dependent on what form Brexit takes, the three main legal consequences of Brexit on intellectual property that businesses should be aware of are that: European Union Trade Marks and Registered and Unregistered Community Designs will cease to have effect in the UK. Unless the UPC Agreement is also...

On 10 March 2017, the Commercial Court of Pamplona, the city famous for the Running of the Bulls, gave judgment on the use of drawings that an artist had assigned to their employer, including their bull cartoon, “Mister Testis”, sold to tourists at the famous festival. The Court enforced the...